DUSHANBE, February 9, Asia-Plus - Dushanbe law enforcement authorities are conducting raids to reveal cell phones that were delivered to Tajikistan illegally.

Ilyos Ortiqov, an official with the Dushanbe prosecutor’s office, said in an interview with Asia-Plus that the capital law enforcement agencies have conducted joint raids on shops selling cell phones.  According to him, inspections have recorded numerous instances of violation of customs and tax legislation.   

“Inspections were conducted in Dushanbe over the last two weeks,” said Ortiqov, “By the end of January, 23 shops have been inspected in the capital city and 514 cell phones have been confiscated because shops did not have appropriate documents confirming that the phone had been delivered to the country legally.”  Of 23 inspected shops, 19 have been suspended from functioning.  

The prosecutor noted that the Dushanbe prosecutor’s office had issued ruling to close a flea market for selling cell phones that had sprung up at Dushanbe’s largest market Korvon.  “Inspection has shown that more than 2,000 people are dealing there with selling cell phones that do not have any documents,” Ortiqov said, adding that such raids will be regular in Dushanbe.  

According to the State Communications Oversight and Regulatory Service of the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC), official dealers of large cell communications companies last year delivered some 350,000 cell phones to Tajikistan, including 300,000 phones delivered by TK-Mobile that provides cellular communications services in CDMA standard.  

According to specialists from a MoTC, all entrepreneurs dealing with delivery of cell phones to Tajikistan should register their goods at relevant bodies.